Collapsible mold for concrete burial vaults



May 21, 1935. i w. A. PALMER 2,001,795

GOLLAPSIBLE MOLD FOR CONCRETE BURIAL VAULTS 1 v I Filed March 17, 1954 2Sheets-Sheet 1 ALMER. Enventor Cittomegaz I WILLIAM AF May 21, 1935. w.A. PALMER COLLAPSIBLE MOLD FOR CONCRETE BURIAL VAULTS Filed March 17,1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WILLIAM AF'ALMER INVENTOR ATTORNEYS elevation.

elevation taken 7 Patented May 21, 1935 T UNlTED'ST-ATES] PATENT OFFICECOLLAPSIBLE MOLD FOR CONCRETE 'BURIAL vAUL'rs William A. Palmer,Muhlenberg Township,.Berks County, Pa. Willard S. Palmer, administratorI of said William A. Palmer, deceased,assignor to Mary L. PalmerApplication March 17, 1934, Serial No. 716,043 GQlaims. (01. 25-130)without harmful prying so as to insure a more perfect finished casting.

'With' this primary object in view and with other objects that willlater herein appear, my present invention consists in the improvedcollapsible mold hereinafter set forth, the details of its constructionand the manner of its assembly and disassembly being fully described inconnection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel featuresthereof specifically defined in the appended claims. i

Fig. l is a plan view of an assembled mold showing a preferredembodiment of my invention, the cover plates for the core being brokenaway at one end to more clearly show the underneath construction, andthe casing broken away at one end. i i

Fig. 2 is a side elevation corresponding to Fig. 1, the casing beingbroken away at one end to show a portion of the enclosed core in sideFig. 3 is perspective sectional on the line 33 of Fig. 1, certainunitary parts being broken away or omitted forclearness of disclosure. i

Fig. 4 is a perspective showing of one of the complementary side platesof thecore, indicating its inner wall construction.

Fig. 5 is a perspective sectional elevation on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1,showing one of the transverse bracing plates employed in the core tounite the side plates of the latter and. form a support for the topplates of said core.

Fig. 6 shows in perspective one of the top plates for the core.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the assembled mold shown in Figs. 1 and 2.s

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional elevation taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig, 9 is a plan view of an assembled mold adapted to cast acomplementary cover or lid for Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional elevation taken on the line ll--l I of Fig.10.

In the preferred embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 8, the mold comprises apallet A, casing B y and core 0, in which the vault or box is preferablycast in an inverted position, while Figs. 9, 10 and 11, show the moldfor the complementary lid comprising a pallet A and form C supportedthereon, on which support the plastic material is laid and its exposedupper surface finished by a screed 0. of proper shape, as wellunderstood. And as disclosed in the drawings I prefer to employ metalthroughout the form as best lending itself to sturdy structure withminimum bulk, and its smooth hard surface contacting with the plastic 15material producing a smooth finished surface on'the casting.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, the pallet, indicatedgenerally by the reference letter A, comprises a rectangular platform I,preferably having its central portion removed for purposes of lightingthe same, and constructed from a single metal sheet, ormade up of unitedsections as desired, so as to provide a continuous peripheral surface 2lying in a. horizontal plane 25 to support the upstandingwalls of thecasing and core and contact with the plastic material to form a smoothfinished top edge on the casting. The platform, as shown, may bestrengthened by transverse brace members 300 and if desired, may .30have rollers or casters, not shown, to facilitate moving it from placeto place. Fixed to the platform surface 2, as'shown, are spaced anglebars3 and 4, extending continuously around said periphery and theirupstanding flanges, 5 "and6 respec- 35 tively, forming parallel supportsto fixedly space the casing and core walls engaging against theiropposing faces. Said angle bars, 3 and 4, further act to reenforce saidplatform I and assure its rigid resistance against sagging.

The mold casing, indicated generally by the reference character B,comprises similar side walls, indicated generally by reference I 0, I0,and

similar end walls, indicated generally by references II, II, each beingpreferably constructed as a separate unit, and jointly forming an opentop rectangular frame, as shown,- with its bottom edges resting onplatform surface 2 and engaging against peripheral support 5 on thelatter. Each side wall [0, as best seen in cross section in Figs. 50 3and 8, is shown as having an intermediately inclined portion I2 unitingthe pallet contacting portion [3 to'the upper portion 14, which latterextends in a vertical plane inwardly spaced from the vertical plane inwhich portion 13 extends. 5

bulging to the side wall I B which may be further strengthened, ifdesired, by vertical outer ribs l5, and a top flanged bar l8 as shown.The end walls are indicated as having an angular cross section similarto the side walls, and the similar corresponding portions have thereferences l2, l3, l4 and IE, but because of their reduced length do notrequire the ribs IS. The end walls IL! I, are shown as abutted againstthe edges of the side walls H2, l0, and preferably further engage the.latter by side flanges IT, and fillet extensions l8,

the former bearing against the outer surface of the adjacent side wallIf], and the fillet bearing against the opposing inner face andproducing a rounded corner on the casting. The pallet flange 5 securelyretains the bottom edges of the casing walls in assembled position, andtie rods I9, 19, engaging in the apertured projecting ends of angle barsl6 removably unite their upper ends.

The core C, as shown, comprises side walls, indicated generally byreferences 25, 20, end walls, indicated generally by references 2|, 2 l,and a top wall, indicated generally by reference 22, and when assembleddetermining the inside surface of the casting. The side and end wallsrest on pallet A with their lower ends engaging peripheral flange 6 onthe latter, and top wall 22 is located in a horizontal plane below theplane of the top of casing-B, the depth determining the thickness of thebottom wall of the casting. The end walls :21, 2! are shown as separateunits of similar construction and each comprises a flat plate 33 ofsuitable thickness and size having .its lower edge resting on palletsurface 2 against flangefi thereon, to which latter it is preferablyheld as by one or more offset clips 3| secured to plate 3|) and slidableover flange 6 to clamp against the inner face of the latter. A shelf30I, adjacent the top edges forms a support for top wall 22, and hooks32, or equivalent devices, extend from the ends of shelf 39! to suitablyapertured flanges 33 on the side walls 20, 20, to secure the latter inengaging contact against the side edges of end plate 30.

The side walls 20, 20, are separate units of similar construction, eachwall 20 being preferably made up of a plurality of complementary plates,the drawings indicating three plates 35, 36,- and 31, having their loweredges resting. on pallet surface 2 against flange 6 thereon and theirmeeting edges abuttingin a vertical plane. To rigidly unite the abuttingends and fixedly space the side walls, I employ bracing plates 38,

two being indicated, and each extending in a vertical plane from theabutting plate edges on one side to the abutting plate edges on theopposite side; and the preferred means shown for rigidly securing saidbracing plates to said side plates comprise reversely extended lockingflanges 39 and 48 secured to each side of said .bracing plate 38, andslidably engaging with the offset free edges of locking plates 4! and 42secured respectively adjacent the abutting edges of; two adjoiningplates.

7 I This means provides for securing theside' plates 35, 36, and 3'! ofeach side wall 20 in true alinement, rigidly braces the walls 20, 2!] inspaced relation, and permits the sliding removal of said bracing plates38 in disassembling to facilitate stripping the mold as later hereindescribed. The lower edges of the side plates 35, 36, and 31 may besecured to ,flange 6 bymeans similar to that employedfor the end platesand as indicated at 3!. And each bracing plate is shown as havingsecured thereto on opposite sides adjacent to top edge an angularlyinclined flange 43, M, which jointly form a transverse V-shaped shelf,as shown, to support the top wall 22; the side wall plates 35, 36, and31 each having an inwardly extending shelf 45 adjacent its top edge tofurther support said top wall 22.

The top wall 22, in the preferred showing of the drawings, .ismade up ofa plurality of separate plates, three plates 53, 5! and 52 beingindicated, having their meeting edges abutting in the plane of thebracing plates 33; which meeting edges as shown, have downwardlyinclined bends engaging in abutted relation in the V-shaped shelf 43, Al on bracing plates 38, said construction providing for forming raisedload supporting ribs on the inside bottom of the" casting. The top wallplates rest also on shelf plates 33! and 45 at a level with the topedges of the side and end walls, which means keep them in alinement toform the top wall 22 of the core.

From the foregoing description and inspection of the drawings'it will beseen that when the core C and casing B are assembled on pallet A, theyform a peripheral channel 60 extending around the core C between thewalls of the latter and the spaced walls of said casing A, and

upwardly from the surface 2 of pallet A to opentop communication withthe horizontal level defined by the spaced relation of core top wall 22below the top edges of the walls of casing B.

In forming a casting, the aforesaid space. is filled with.suitable'plastic material, and excess material above the top edgesof-casing B, removed by a screed whichmay be slidably guided on said topedges.

ly toslidably disengage their connections to the side wall plates 35,3'5, and 31, and the end hook ,devices 32 disengaged from theirconnections to flanges 33, which frees the plates 35, 36, 31 I forindividual removal.

To form a depressed seat in the top edge of the casting adapted toreceive 7 the complementary lid, I preferably employ, as shown, suitablyshaped strips 6H, 6H, secured to and forming an enlarged edge thicknesson the pallet-contacting ends of side and wall plates 28, 20, and 2i,2!, of the core B, said strips being made of separate lengths conformingto their respective wall plates, and jointly forming a continuousperipheral core extension toward the casing wall portions, the result ofwhich construction on the casting is to form a recess in the flanged topedge of the latter to receive the edges of a cast lid or cover.

Said cast lid or cover may be readily formed in a mold structure such asshown in Figs. 9, 10

and 11, in which is shown a pallet A and a core 0'. Pallet. A is similarto pallet A, having a platform I on the surface 2' of which a singleperipheral flange 5' is secured, acting in this connection to define theouter edge walls of the lid casting; and the core C is in this case madeas a single unit having a fiat peripheral border 10, surrounding alongitudinally extending convex or hemi-spherical ridge H formed by abulging of the material within said border; the border resting on thesurface 2' of pallet C and being positioned thereon by the peripheralflange 5 within which it closely fits. To facilitate stripping the moldfrom the casting, the ends 72, 12 of said ridge are shown as angularlyinclined relative to said border, which inclination is an importantfactor as offering no resistance when the form is being removed. Thepallet may be strengthened as shown by transverse brace members 390 andthe underside of ridge ll may also be strengthened by ribs or the likeif desired, but not shown in the drawings.

In the form of lid mold above described, the plastic material is laid onthe form C and confined by the peripheral flange 5', and excess materialremoved by a suitable screed slidable on the top edge of said flange andadapted to.

shape the top surface of the plastic material and leave a properthickness between. The mold is preferably inverted for stripping, whenthe pallet A may be readily lifted off, and then the core C removed as aunit, its described construction with angled ends l2, l2, facilitatingits being lifted from the casting with little or no prying, and insuringa more perfect finish.

From the foregoing description it is believed the nature of myinvention, and the manner of assembling and disassembling the separateunits will be readily understood. Such units are of a size and weightthat may be easily handled, of

a sturdy build to withstand repeated use, and the opentop mold form forboth vault and lid facilitate the introduction of the plastic materialand the ready removal of all in excess of their needs by scraping it offwith a screed of suitable shape, as readily understood.

The improved construction further provides adequate bracing by thepallet flanges 5, 6, and 5'; interlocking walls of the casing B, bracedrigid construction of the core C, and the ridged form of core C, toresist any distortion in the desired mold form from pressure of theapplied plastic material. And such material, it will be understood, maybe reenforced, if desired, during its casting, by the introduction ofsuitable metal rods or wire mesh, in a manner well understood.

The disclosure of the drawings indicates a preferred embodiment of myinvention, which, it will be understood, may be modified by changes oradditions within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

What I claim,-

l. A collapsible mold for concrete burial vaults and the like,comprising pallet, casing, and core sections; said pallet havingparallel spaced flanges forming continuous rigid supports for thecontacting edge portions respectively of the casing and core sections;said casing having upstanding sides and ends, engaging corner edges, andtie rods uniting said sides to said ends; and said core having its sidesand top formed of a plurality of plates with abutting meeting edges, atransverse bracing plate extending from the abutting edges of two plateson one side to the abutting edges of two plates on the opposite side,complementary means on said bracing and side plates slidably engageableto rigidly lock said side plates in edge abutting relation to saidbracing plate, and supporting means on the topedge of said bracing platefor the meeting edges of two adjoining top plates.

2. A collapsible mold for concrete burial vaults and the like,comprising pallet, casing, and core sections; said pallet havingparallel spaced flanges forming continuous rigid supports for thecontacting edge portions respectively of the casing and core sections;said casing having upstanding sides and ends, engaging corner edges, andtie rods uniting said sides to said ends; and said core having twoopposing sides and its top formed by a plurality of plates having theiredges abutting in a plane transverse to said sides, a bracing plate insaid transverse plane, complementary means on said bracing plate and theends of said side plates slidably engageable to rigidly lock said sideplates in edge-abutting relation to said bracing plate, and supportingmeans on said side and bracing plates for said top plates.

3. In a collapsible mold for concrete burial vaults and the like, a coresection having opposing walls formed of a plurality of plates withabutting meeting edges, a transverse bracing plate extending fromabutting edges in one wall to abutting edges in the oppositewall, andcomplementary means on said bracing and Wall plates slidably engageableto rigidly unite said wall plates in edge-abutting relation to saidbracing plate.

4. In a collapsible mold for concrete burial vaults and the like, apallet having flanges forming an upstanding rectangular support, and acore having its sides and ends engaging against said support, the sidesand top of said core being formed of a plurality of complementary plateshaving their meeting edges in a plane transverse to said sides, abracing plate in said plane, complementary means on said bracing andside plates slidably engageable to unite said side plates inedge-abutting relation to said bracing plate, and supports on said sidesand bracing plate for said top plates.

5. In a collapsible mold for concrete burial vaults and the like, a corehaving opposing sides and its top' formed of a plurality ofcomplementary plates having their meeting edges in a plane transverse tosaid sides, a bracing plate in said plane, complementary means on saidbracing and side plates rigidly uniting said side plates to said bracingplate, said top plates having downwardly angled bends at their meetingedges, and

said bracing plate having angled supports adjacent its top edge adaptedto engage said angled bends of two adjacent top plates and support themin edge contacting relation.

6. In a collapsible mold for concrete burial vaults and the like, a corecomprising upstanding sides and ends and a top formed of aplurality ofcomplementary plates, said plates having their adjacent ends downwardlyangled with their edges contacting at an angle, and transverse bracingplates within said core slidably engaging said side walls and having aV-shaped top edge adapted to receive said adjacent downwardly 311-. gledtop plate ends and support the latter in edge-contacting relation.

WILLIAM A. PALMER...

